MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 287 



Melbourne, October 8th, 1891. — E. J. White, Esq., in the chair. 



Papers. — (1) "Notes on the Distribution of Victorian Frogs, 

 "with Description of two new species," by A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc. 

 These species were found at Narree Warren, Gippsland, and at Gisbprne 

 and Macedon respectively. 



(2) E. F. J. Love, M.A., communicated a letter from Sir George 

 Stokes, President of the Royal Society of London, concerning the 

 Gravity Survey of Australia, written in reply to one from himself. 

 The letter contained a number of suggestions, the most important being 

 a new method, based on the principle of dynamical similarity, for the 

 determination of the errors introduced into results of observations by 

 variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure. 



(3) "Notes on the Magnetic Shoal near Bezout Island, North- 

 West Australia," by R. L. J. Ellery, F.R.S., C.M.G. This paper gave 

 details of the results of observations made by Captain Moore, the 

 commander of the " Penguin," under instructions from the Admiralty. 

 According to these there was a magnetic shoal near the islands. It was 

 about four miles long by two miles broad, and was at a depth of eight or 

 nine fathoms. In a wooden ship, or composite vessel like the "Penguin," 

 the compasses would act as usual after leaving the shoal. Whether or 

 not induction would take place in an iron vessel was a matter yet to be 

 ascertained. At present there was no evidence of danger to navigation, 

 except that a vessel steering by compass across the shoal would be set 

 out of her course, more or less, according as to whether she cut the 

 shoal at the narrowest part of it or obliquely. The locus of the shoal 

 was 20 deg. 32 min. 35 sec. S., 117 deg. 13 min. 2 sec. E. From it 

 Bedout Island summit was distant 2*17 miles, and bore S. 78 deg. 49 

 min. W. 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA. 



Hobart, September 8th, 1891.— His Excellency Sir R. G. C. 

 Hamilton, K.C.B., President, in the chair. 



His Excellency referred to the paper read on behalf of Mr. A. J. 

 Ogilvy at last meeting on the best means of collecting scientific 

 information, and suggested that the matter should be brought under the 

 notice of the approaching meeting of the Australasian Association for 

 the Advancement of Science. He considered that valuable information 

 would be obtained if, as suggested, there was a representative of the 

 Society in every district to keep his eyes and ears open, and let them 

 know of anything of scientific interest. 



Mr. A. J. Ogilvy said he regarded it as very important that in 

 every district the Society should have some one to represent it, and 

 pointed out that if at any time it wanted any special local knowledge 

 there would be somebody to whom application could be made. He 

 thought that the Fellows should consider as to the best means of 

 carrying out the suggestion made, and deal with the subject at a future 

 meeting. 



Paper. — (1) "Electric Traction," by Montague Jones, C.E. 



